MARSHALL — Music and community have always been two big ingredients of Marshall’s Sounds of Summer festival, organizers say. This year, the community connection has come through in a big way — it was support from a group of community members that made it possible to bring Pablo Cruise to Minnesota to be Sounds of Summer’s main act.

“We had anonymous donors approach us six or eight months ago,” and suggested the band perform at Sounds of Summer, said Brock Klaith of the Sounds of Summer committee. The group of donors contributed about $25,000 to help make it happen, Klaith said.

Being able to bring a well-known band to Marshall was “a pretty big deal for our community,” Klaith said.

Local resident Jim Moline said it was really all about sharing some good music with people. Moline, who was out spreading the word about Saturday’s concert, said he was part of the group of donors that helped sponsor the band.

“It’s just a good thing for the town,” he said.

“Back in college, we used to listen to these guys all the time,” Moline said. “Back in the 70s, there were so many good bands.”

A California band, Pablo Cruise had hits in the 1970s with songs like “Love Will Find A Way,” “Whatcha Gonna Do” and “A Place In the Sun.” After the band got back together around 15 years ago, Moline said, “I’ve gone to see them a half dozen times since.”

All the musicians featured at this year’s Sounds of Summer are excellent, Moline said. In addition to Pablo Cruise, there will be performances by the Killer Vees and Patrick Mahoney. Band members of the Killer Vees include Matt Vee, nephew of 60s pop star Bobby Vee, and Jeff and Tommy Vee, Bobby Vee’s sons.

Mahoney, an Irish performer and recording artist from Dublin, is another great addition to the Sounds of Summer lineup, Moline said. Mahoney has performed in Las Vegas, and at the Silver Star Theater in Mesa, Arizona, he said.

Klaith said seeing strong community support for Sounds of Summer showed how much organizers have tried to make it a family-oriented festival. This week there are events geared toward community members of all ages, and that families can enjoy together, he said. In addition to the musical lineup, one new Sounds of Summer event will be the Hometown Heroes Walk at Independence Park on Wednesday. The walk will honor members of the military, law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical responders and clergy.

It will be exciting to have this year’s musical acts performing in Marshall, Klaith and Moline said. And it will also be exciting to share that music with area residents. Moline said he hoped lots of people attend the free outdoor concert Saturday night. The music will start with a performance by Mahoney at 6:30 p.m., with the Killer Vees taking the stage at 7:30, and Pablo Cruise at 9:30.

“You can’t beat it,” Moline said. “And it’s free.”

More information on this year’s Sounds of Summer, including a schedule of events, is available online at www.marshallsoundsofsummer.com.